Alan Pardew has admitted he needs to bolster his defensive options during the January transfer window and has moved to strengthen that area even further after completing the signing of Mathieu Debuchy from Lille earlier this month.

Bong is a Cameroon international who has made 12 appearances at left-back in Ligue 1 this season, but Valenciennes president Jean-Raymond Legrand insists a replacement must be found before allowing the 24-year-old to move to St James' Park.

"Newcastle are very interested [in Bong], they have made an offer," Legrand told le10sport.com.

"We will wait and see. But I will not sell players unless I can replace them."